Category Archives: Creation

Fresh Air

Posted on August 14, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Smoke…too dense to go out;too unsafe to play ball.So we sat in the house.and did nothing at all. All we could do was tosit!sit!sit!sit!and we did not like it.not one little bit.–Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat (adapted) Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Big Yellow Taxi, Daniel X. O'Neil, Dr Seuss, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Joni Mitchell, Kalamalka Lake, Living from the Heart, Okanagan Rail Trail, pistachio, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, The Cat in the Hat | Leave a comment

Save Us

Posted on August 8, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Yesterday, we returned home from camping in the Kootenays.Today, I’m baking bread, and Fred is vacuuming out the car.I wish he could vacuum up the smoke and everyone were safe at home. One hundred and four wildfires are actively … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Creation, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Bowen Assman, Bradley Creek Fire, Castanet, Deuteronomy 31:6, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Liam Phair, Living from the Heart, Psalm 10:1, Psalm 16, Psalm 16:10, Qilpituk Creek, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Vernon fire | 1 Comment

This Is Me Whole

Posted on July 24, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

The word for this new year that came to you –of all the words, this one and of all people, you– what if it isn’t what you should be but what you already are? What if it isn’t what you should do but what God is already … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Living from the Heart, Mary Oliver, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Wild Geese | Leave a comment

Penelope Rides the Icefield Parkway

Posted on July 17, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Three mountain passes (Sunwapta, Bow, Kicking Horse) Three national parks (Jasper, Banff and Yoho) Three hundred kilometres (301.5 to be exact): Snaring River Campground, north of Jasper, to Hoodoo Creek Campground in Yoho by way of Lake Louise in Banff … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Banff, Bow Summit, Esther Hizsa, Icefield Parkway, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jasper, John Philip Newell, Liv Avail, Living from the Heart, Penelope, Peyto Lake, Sacred Earth Sacred Soul, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Wapta Falls, Yoho | 6 Comments

Making Friends in Jasper

Posted on July 10, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Fred and I are camping in Jasper National Park. I love being outside and recall what Victoria Loorz said about “relationship-ing” with Creation: we are in relationship with creation, and she with us. With this in mind, I notice … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Reflections, Stories | Tagged A Gaelic Blessing, Celtic Blessing, Deep Peace, Esther Hizsa, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jasper, Living from the Heart, Living from the Heart Podcast, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Victoria Loorz, Wood Lily | 1 Comment

Falling in Love

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Nothing is more practical thanfinding God, thanfalling in Lovein a quite absolute, final way …Fall in Love, stay in love,and it will decide everything.–Joseph Whelan, SJ I need to find andfall in love with God in an absolute, final way. … Continue reading →

Posted in compassion, Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged Alfalfa, Alice Walker, Church of the Wild, Esther Hizsa, Falling in Love, Grey Canal Trail, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Joseph Whelan, Living from the Heart, Michael Major, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Victoria Loorz | 1 Comment

The Tree Speaks

Posted on May 30, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

Fir trees bear green branches year-round. But take a look, and you’ll notice some dead limbs. One tree, nestled in community, is only green near the top with clusters of vibrant new growth lower down where sunlight found them. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections, Stories | Tagged Body Prayer, Cathedral Grove, crucifixion, Esther Hizsa, fir trees, Heather Ruce, Here I am as I am, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jim Hoffman, Living from the Heart, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

Realignment

Posted on May 2, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

After thirteen days away, (a dozen visits with friends and family, six ferries, one airport, a drive through downtown Vancouver, retreating on Galiano and leading a retreat on Bowen), I looked forward to coming home to home, to my Fred,my kitchen, my … Continue reading →

Posted in autism, compassion, Creation, Poetry, Reflections | Tagged crucifixion, deer, Esther Hizsa, Golden Finch, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Jenny Pansing, Living from the Heart, Nan C. Merrill, Psalm 23:3, Psalms for Praying, Scot Close, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon | Leave a comment

As If I Wasn’t Dying Inside

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.–Psalm 22:14 (NIV) Jesus, on the cross, poured out like water bones out of joint heart turned to wax, … Continue reading →

Posted in community, compassion, Creation, Easter, Lent, Poetry, Prayer, Reflections | Tagged Birds on a Rainy Day, Celtic Blessing, crucifixion, Deep Peace, Esther Hizsa, Golden Moth, Ignatian Spiritual Excercises, Karl Jenkins, Living from the Heart, Macomb Paynes, resurrection, SoulStream, Spiritual Director North Okanagan, Spiritual Director Vernon, Sylvia Sassen | Leave a comment

Another Disguise

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Esther Hizsa

God comes to you disguised as your life. –Paula D’Arcy Dust to dust is not nothing to nothing as if dust were not precious, as if returning to dust meant our lives didn’t matter, as if we could disappear without a trace, as if God could … Continue reading →